Women and cars

JenGin74

I got my oil changed yesterday. What should have cost about $40 ended up costing me $155 because I let the guy talk me into additional services. it sounded like important maintenance things that needed to be done, so I told him to go for it.

When I got home, Tim told me that for $30 worth of parts and fluids he could have done the same thing. I got suckered.

Is it just me, or would you have known better?

laurenclaire1386

My dad warned me early on that mechanics have a tendency to try to get one over on women and to NEVER let them do anything without consulting him or someone who knows about cars and what maintainence should cost, like my brother, first. I'm hyper aware of it because my dad beat it into my head, so no it wouldn't have happened to me, but I can see how it could easily happen. That sucks

shaydenise

Awww I'm sorry.  Growing up my dad was always the one to fix our cars if something was wrong so I always just ignore the things the car dealer tells me and just ask him if it's really something that needs to be done lol.

Just tell your H at least he doesn't have to worry about doing it now! lol

Anysunrise

Yes, but only because I've heard 1000 stories exactly like this one.

betrothed123

I would have known better.  My dad taught me how to fix most problems with my car, so it's very rare that I need to bring it in and when I do I always know exactly what needs to be done.

JenGin74

On the plus side, I did say no to two other services that would have added another $250 to the bill.

I don't even know how to pump my own gas. That's just sad. The really bizarre thing though is that I can change a tire faster than anyone I know.

Anysunrise

If it makes you feel better, I had a lady trick me into paying for a $20 membership for a store I lived 1300 miles away from and was only good for a year.

Night_Sprite

I have all my services taken care of through the dealer, so I don't worry about things like that.  I also don't do car work and neither does H.

dmiller9274

I learned the hard way. When I was in college I had some problems with my truck, and my parents were out of town.  I took it to a dealership and they charged me $1700 for spark plugs and wires.  When my dad got home, I told him about it and he flipped his wig.  He drove up to where I went to school, and we went back to the dealership.  They refunded the full amount, and apologized.  Now I don't listen to a word any of them tell me, I'll call FI or my dad and let them explain to them over the phone and let them decide. 

Chi_Chi

I always tell them no. The only thing that I have ok'd other than the oil change, is a new cabin air filter. Apparently Stuart Little made his way into my car and made a snack out of mine.

[Deleted User]

Yep, should have known better. Every time I get my oil changed the guy comes out with a laundry list of things to fix. I tell him no every time, you think he'd give up by now. My stepdad always looks over my truck when I go home, and H can take care of some basic things.

Oh, and my mom can't pump gas either. She used to, but when she was about 8 month's pregnant with my brother she was at a gas station and something wasn't working right, and a guy came over to help but ended up hitting on her to the point that someone else had to step in. It scarred her for life and now she refuses to get gas.

BecW2be

Ugh. I hate this. I'm WAY over limit for an oil change because I hate going so much. DH promised me he'd take it last week, but he's so busy he didn't get around to it. I just know I'm going to have to take it and it makes me want to throw up. I always say no, but I know they are going to tell me all sorts of shiit I need fixed every single time. I hate it!

SarahPLiz

I only do what needs to be done, and go in telling them not to upsell me because I flat out don't want anything else done. I've done it enough times that the guys just do what I say and leave it alone. 

LesPaul

They do take advantage of women, unfortunately.  I always consult DH or my brother when extras are recommended that I'm not sure about.

JenGin74

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_women-cars?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6450c493-2fbf-4804-9e30-44060df3a3a6Post:09347925-ee3b-459e-87c1-70a6ccc01358">Re: Women and cars</a>:
[QUOTE]I learned the hard way. When I was in college I had some problems with my truck, and my parents were out of town.  I took it to a dealership and they charged me $1700 for spark plugs and wires.  When my dad got home, I told him about it and he flipped his wig.  He drove up to where I went to school, and we went back to the dealership.  They refunded the full amount, and apologized.  Now I don't listen to a word any of them tell me, I'll call FI or my dad and let them explain to them over the phone and let them decide. 
Posted by dmiller9274[/QUOTE]

Holy crap! So what excuse did they give your dad for charging you that much? That's just insane

dmiller9274

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_women-cars?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6450c493-2fbf-4804-9e30-44060df3a3a6Post:c9f71b94-9108-4cb3-a633-fe4de21c459f">Re: Women and cars</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Women and cars : Holy crap! So what excuse did they give your dad for charging you that much? That's just insane
Posted by JenGin74[/QUOTE]

<div>They told me that it was labor and parts.  When my dad looked at the receipt the parts were listed for about 4 times the amount they actually would have been.  They also charge a crazy amount for labor.  The dealership could have lost their license over it, I think that's why the manager was so cool about giving me all of the money back.  He claimed that the guy who did it had been caught that same week doing it to other customers and had been fired.  He was probably lying, but we let it go since he gave me the cash back.  </div><div>
</div><div>My 2nd grade boyfriend is the service manager at the dealership I go to now, since we go way back, I trust him a little more, and he hasn't tried to screw me over yet...but I still don't trust him completely</div>

JenGin74

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_women-cars?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6450c493-2fbf-4804-9e30-44060df3a3a6Post:58ba44fc-43c0-4399-8070-51e22c90c88f">Re: Women and cars</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Women and cars : LOL! Well I can pump gas and change my oil but I don't know how to change a tire. I'd like to learn!
Posted by ebonyivory10[/QUOTE]


New Jersey is full serve only. Technically I don't know how to do it because I'm not allowed to do it, so I have somewhat of an excuse.

LauraT25

Ha my husband is from NJ and I had to teach him how to pump gas when we were in college.

Anyway, yes, it happens to me too.  I tell myself that I will just say no, and usually I'm pretty good.  If it sounds like something legit, I'll bring it up at the real mechanic when we take our car in for check-ups or whatever the heck they're called.  But occasionally they get me, and I feel like such a putz.  Unfortunately H knows nothing about cars so I can't just call him and see.  I should just know by now that Jiffy Lube is staffed by a bunch of crooks.

ETA: I hate getting gas in NJ and I avoid it at all costs.  It freaks me out having someone back there pumping my gas while I'm sitting inside my car. 

ohwhynot

It would have happened to me AND to my husband.  Neither one of us knows diick about cars.  We go to a garage we trust, though, and so I don't think we're getting ripped off on the regular.  Other people who go to the same garage don't always get the same recommendations so I think they're legitimate. 

LessThanZero

I learned a good amount about cars because I was interested in it and was always around so many people who worked on cars growing up .

I always take my car to the dealership, not the little no-name garages. And I usually have no problems and am ok with some of the extra things, unless it sounds unreasonable to me. Usually, they'll suggest changing a filter or rotating and balancing tires and those things do need to be done every so often.

JenGin74

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_women-cars?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6450c493-2fbf-4804-9e30-44060df3a3a6Post:8f9a21cb-b44c-40c6-8dd9-4fb27a1687cf">Re: Women and cars</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Women and cars : They told me that it was labor and parts.  When my dad looked at the receipt the parts were listed for about 4 times the amount they actually would have been.  They also charge a crazy amount for labor.  The dealership could have lost their license over it, I think that's why the manager was so cool about giving me all of the money back.  He claimed that the guy who did it had been caught that same week doing it to other customers and had been fired.  He was probably lying, but we let it go since he gave me the cash back.   My 2nd grade boyfriend is the service manager at the dealership I go to now, since we go way back, I trust him a little more, and he hasn't tried to screw me over yet...but I still don't trust him completely
Posted by dmiller9274[/QUOTE]

I'm glad you got your money back. What asssholes.

mgietler76

I actually work at a dealership so I know they won't try to get one over on me, I've never seen it done here (although I love my job so I'm probably biased) but I know it happens all the time. I'm fortunate in that I know how to do basic maintenance for myself and only bring my truck in for things I can't do or don't want to do, and my FI is auto. savvy.

SCBojangles1138

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_women-cars?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6450c493-2fbf-4804-9e30-44060df3a3a6Post:82c268f5-788d-4aaa-b641-2eeac041dc07">Re: Women and cars</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Women and cars : New Jersey is full serve only. Technically I don't know how to do it because I'm not allowed to do it, so I have somewhat of an excuse.
Posted by JenGin74[/QUOTE]

Isn't it the law that in Jersey, you have to let them pump it? Just wondering...

None of that has happened to me because I do my own general maintenance right down to rotating tires. However, they totally take advantage of women. I've seen it happen to my friends. Now you just no for next time.  :)

mehgank

My car always shits the bed whenever FI or I get deployed. Back in May, FI got deployed and not a week later did my window motor go out with the window stuck down. In Florida. In a thunder storm. I panicked and took it to the dealership (the only place around that had the parts for an Audi window motor). They found an entire laundry list of other things that needed attention: new front brake pads, oil change (I admit, I needed one), new pollen filter (WTF?) and so on and so forth. What should have cost me maybe $200 if FI was here to do it, cost me upwards of $850 (and that's after they deducted what my after-market warranty covered). I cried at work.

Then, a week after FI got back from that deployment, he got sent to a training school for two weeks. As it turns out, while they had replaced my front brake pads, they didn't even check my rear brake pads. They started grinding, but everyone told me "Oh, it's just your car getting used to the new brake pads. They always grind when they're new". I don't know jack about cars, so I kept driving. After a few days, I got scared and took it to Goodyear this time (FVCK the dealership) and the brake pads were so worn I needed new rotors. Another $475 down the shitter.

As of right now, since I've been gone 70 days, my car's battery went out and needs a new one. FML

mocha beans

I always tell them no to extra services, and no to the expensive oil.  DH does the oil changes in all our vehicles except for my Escort, cause he says it sucks to do, so we pay the money to have the shop do it.  They always try to get me to put in the expensive oil.  Dude, it's got 200k+ miles on it, I'm just happy it's run this long, if it dies a bit sooner cause I put cheap dino oil in instead of synthetic, oh well, we got our use out of it.

A big name brake shop told me that I needed all new brakes when I brought it in for brake pads, to the tune of $700.  I called then-FI, he called them and said put it back together, we'll think about it.  Brought it to our awesome small shop mechanic, which I should have done in the first place, and he said it only needed a few parts for less than $200.

I do enjoy going to Napa to get parts for DH's fast car though.  He tells me exactly what to get, and it's usually not for his model car.  The parts guy usually argues for a bit saying it's not the right part and I'm wrong.  I just rattle off the performance parts that the car has on it and what it can do, and he shuts right up and gets me what I want.  Makes me glad that I pay attention when DH and his best friend work on/swear at the car.

marriedfilingjointly

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_women-cars?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6450c493-2fbf-4804-9e30-44060df3a3a6Post:6acba2d7-840c-42ea-b6ee-d99426611506">Re: Women and cars</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Women and cars : My dealer does it. I once asked why every man that sits in the waiting room with me never gets called out to look at their cars, but every woman does. They must have marked my file, because they stopped after that. I wish they were still close enough to go to for oil changes. I hate dealing with new mechanics.
Posted by BecW2be[/QUOTE]

Yeah, dealers are just as bad, frankly.  They try it on both me and my husband.  My car got recalled for some power steering issue and they tried to talk me into some BS services while I waited.

Do you have a Grease Monkey around?  Their motto is something about never trying to sell you services that you don't need.  In my experience, they live up to their motto. 

If it happens again, ask for a printout of suggested services and say you'll look over it when you get your next paycheck.  Then get your car manual out and compare it to the suggested services in there.  If you don't have a manual, order one online STAT. 

Even if you don't know a lot about your car, try to keep a poker face and never let them know that.  I know just enough to get by and they rarely mess with me anymore. 

When I bought my first car after college, my dad couldn't come with me so I made my idiot boyfriend come.  He didn't know jack about cars (I once said something about the transmission and he said his car didn't have one.  he thought automatics just didn't have a transmission), I just wanted someone with a pen1s to go with me so they wouldn't mess with me.  I told him to keep his mouth shut or I'd make him sit in the car. 

slubkin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_women-cars?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:6450c493-2fbf-4804-9e30-44060df3a3a6Post:2ef8d87c-aa02-45a3-b761-0583cca636b2">Re: Women and cars</a>:
[QUOTE]I sleep with my mechanic. For stuff he can't do/needs tools or workspace he doesn't have (he can't use the work garage for personal use), he takes them to his old employer. For bodywork, we go to an awesome guy who fixed up the Miata like new after it was attacked by the crazy dude. He does all the body work for FedEx here.
Posted by missy68[/QUOTE]
Me too!  Although he's getting a promotion to service writer in November (woo hoo more money!).

SarahPLiz

FI does lots of research on cars and understands the physics of power and all that crap. I know that if I look under the hood I had better be able to reach all my fluids and the oil filter. It should handle well. The gauges should be easy to read. He can talk performance numbers with the sales people, I can talk maintenance and financing costs. We make a pretty good team. He won't even attempt to fix a car, though, but I can diagnose most issues right off the bat. 

Also, my uncle taught me that a mechanic husband's best friend is the radio. As cars get older, they tend to get more creaks and get louder. He told me to just turn the radio up and I won't notice. It works! My car checked out clean after its scheduled maintenance on saturday, even though the road noise is getting louder. 

mocha beans

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_women-cars?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:6450c493-2fbf-4804-9e30-44060df3a3a6Post:8bfbe35c-c15c-43f1-945c-0b5bc135dcf0">Re: Women and cars</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Women and cars : Yeah, dealers are just as bad, frankly.  They try it on both me and my husband.  My car got recalled for some power steering issue and they tried to talk me into some BS services while I waited. Do you have a Grease Monkey around?  Their motto is something about never trying to sell you services that you don't need.  In my experience, they live up to their motto.  If it happens again, ask for a printout of suggested services and say you'll look over it when you get your next paycheck.  Then get your car manual out and compare it to the suggested services in there.  If you don't have a manual, order one online STAT.  Even if you don't know a lot about your car, try to keep a poker face and never let them know that.  I know just enough to get by and they rarely mess with me anymore.  When I bought my first car after college, my dad couldn't come with me so I made my idiot boyfriend come.  He didn't know jack about cars (<strong>I once said something about the transmission and he said his car didn't have one.  he thought automatics just didn't have a transmission</strong>), I just wanted someone with a pen1s to go with me so they wouldn't mess with me.  I told him to keep his mouth shut or I'd make him sit in the car. 
Posted by marriedfilingjointly[/QUOTE]

lol  Wow, that's pretty funny.  Ever remind him to check the blinker fluid?

Yeah, I hate the dealership service shops.  I took my other car in to have some quick recall work done, and he came out with this list of stuff that *needed*  to be done.  $1800 worth of filters, fluid changes, belts, and pumps.  Told him to just do the recall work, because it's free and he has to, but anything else that we think needs to be done we'll do it ourselves; DH and his friend can take it apart and put the car back together blindfolded in a weekend, I'm not paying $1800 for that.  I'll buy a big bottle of rum and make our friend do it.

ricksang

I always say NO, and if they keep insisting that it needs to be taken care of NOW, I tell them I will have my H bring it in b/c I don't have much time o wait.

marissa_claire

They will always try to upsell women - and for way more than it should cost.  That's kind of on you.  Hopefully you won't make the same mistake again!